As I worked on Prizes, Prizes, Everywhere!, I got to the part where I talk about voting contests. It reminded me of how many times I skim the rules vs. reading them, and how it got me into contest trouble.

As I repeat often, my number one tip is: ALWAYS READ THE RULES [& FOLLOW THEM!] You think by now I would know this (especially after the time I had to sumo wrestle Frank for a grand prize because I skimmed the rules).

One of my biggest face-palm moments was when I entered a contest where you submit a picture of a “smart hack” and you were in to win a new cellphone. However, I didn’t spot in the rules that it was a voting contest.  What I scan the rules for are:

  1. who is eligible to enter (ELIGIBILITY)

  2. when does the contest end (END DATE)

  3. and how many times I can enter (FREQUENCY)

Apparently, I didn’t read the part on how the winner was selected: voting. You would think that being the ‘Contest Queen’, winning a voting contest would be easy for me. Well, it isn’t. Although I have many followers, friends or fans, when it comes to voting contests, I don’t win.

Why?

It may be because I am the ‘Contest Queen’, so some feel I don’t deserve to win. Perhaps I don’t beg, enough. I sure as heck don’t cheat. (I am not going to talk about those that buy votes as that is stepping into the dark side of the hobby.)

If you find yourself in one of these crazy contests, you will always see a clause similar to this.

CONDUCT: The Sweepstakes Parties are not responsible for the actions of entrants in connection with the Sweepstakes, including entrants’ attempts to circumvent the Official Rules or otherwise interfere with the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes. The Sweepstakes Parties reserve the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify (or terminate the prize of) any individual who is found to be, or suspected of, acting in any manner deemed by the Sweepstakes Parties to be in violation of the Official Rules, or to be unsportsmanlike or disruptive, or with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person, or to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes, and void all associated entries and/or registrations. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A USER, YOU OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DAMAGE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES IS A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SWEEPSTAKES PARTIES RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES AND OTHER REMEDIES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS’ FEES) FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

It’s clauses like this that allow the sponsor full control if all goes awry. Sadly, even though rules like this are in force, until they can better detect purchased votes, I believe voting contests should be avoided, unless you do something silly like me …

ANOTHER POST: The Downside of the Crown

Do you enter voting contests?